Obituaries

Robert L. Blackburn, 76, passed away July 18, 2018. He was born March 22, 1942 in Ellsworth, Kan. to Paul E. and Dorothy (Pohle) Blackburn.

Robert married Young Sook in Lincoln, Kan. in 1986. He was a trusty plumber, working for City Plumbing, Urban’s Plumbing and Heating, and then started his own plumbing company. He was a member of the Ellsworth Masonic Lodge 146 for 53 years and a member of the Ellsworth First Presbyterian Church.

Robert is survived by his wife, Young Blackburn of Ellsworth; son, Robert Blackburn, Jr. of Ellsworth; son, Ronald Blackburn of Hays; step-daughter, Michele Sullivan of Gossel; and brother, Richard Blackburn of Abilene.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

The memorial service is at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 21, at the First Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth with burial following in the Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery.

Garry W. Endsley, 60, passed away Sunday, July 15, 2018, at the Salina Regional Health Center. He was born in Kansas City, Mo. April 12, 1958 to William Endsley and Karole Jean (Simmons) Hancock. On Aug. 7, 1999 he married Tammy Whitmer.

Garry is survived by his wife, Tammy Endsley of Wilson; sons, Ancil and Max Endsley of Wilson, Michael (Jessica) Endsley, Madison, Wis., and Phillip (Brian) Endsley, Colby; daughter, Nisha (Shane) Trevino, Stockton; mother and step-father, Karole and Dave Hancock, Birch Tree, Mo.; brothers, Ronnie (Deborah) Endsley of Nebraska, Gene Hancock, Henderson, Ky., Mark Hancock, Henderson, Gary (Fannie) Hancock, Henderson; sisters, Janita (Val) Mooney, Mountain View, Mo., Kelly (Richard) Walton, Birch Tree, Donna (Kenny) Crouch,  Henderson, and Joda (Tim) Southard, Cordon, Ky.; three grandchildren and three adopted grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by grandparents, Ancil and Dorothy Endsley.

Melva Marie Kaufman Boxberger, age 92, died Friday, July 13, 2018. She was born on the family farm, southwest of Wilson in Russell County, Kansas to Carl and Minnie (Borell) Heinze on April 4, 1926 during a snow storm on Easter Sunday. She was brought to the house of God on May 2, 1926 for baptism at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wilson. Her sponsors were Marie Heinze and Edwin Borell. She remained a faithful member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wilson. She was confirmed May 29, 1939 by her uncle, The Reverend William J. Lind at Immanuel Church in Wilson.

On Sept. 23, 1944, she was united in marriage to Lloyd K. Kaufman at Immanuel Church in Wilson. They made their home on the farm five miles south of Bunker Hill until 1995 when she moved to Wilson after the death of her husband July 16, 1995. She maintained the family home and was involved in the many activities of a farm life.

Johnny Lemual Lawrence passed away on Monday, July 9, 2018, at Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell, Kan. at the age of 86.  
He was born April 19, 1932 in Ellsworth, Kan. to the late John and Mary (Batthauer) Lawrence. Eighteen months later, after his mother died in childbirth, he and his older brother George went to live with their Grandfather and Grandmother Batthauer on the family farm near Dorrance, Kan., as per their mother’s wishes. Together they grew up in the Dorrance area and Johnny graduated from Dorrance High School with the Class of 1951. In 1953 he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country during the Korean conflict. On April 2, 1955 he was united in marriage to Lillian Bricker in Lucas, Kan.

Della Mae Billings, 88, of Topeka, Kan., passed away on July 5, 2018.

James Alan Wood Jr., 69, of Geneseo, passed away July 1, 2018 at Salina Regional Health Center. He was born Jan. 21, 1949 in Sterling, Kan., the son of James Alan Sr. and Ruby Kruse Wood. He graduated from Geneseo High School with the class of 1967.  

Alan has been a lifelong Rice County resident, having lived the majority of his life in Geneseo. He was owner-operator of Alan Wood Trucking, Inc. in Geneseo. Alan was a volunteer for Geneseo No. 5 Fire Department. Alan played slow pitch softball for many years and umpired numerous baseball games. He enjoyed taking the grandchildren deer and pheasant hunting.

David Richard Galliart, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother, passed away June 29, 2018, in Williamsburg, Va. David was 91 years old.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Lydia Galliart; his wife of 63 years, Phyllis Galliart; his daughter, Joan Cochet; and his sister, Frances Glendening.  

David served in the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II, and then had a long and successful career as a senior executive with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

He is survived by his daughter, Jean Gentry and her family; grandson, Andy Cochet, Jr., and granddaughter, Cheryl Cochet, and their families; sister, Ida Casper and her family; and brothers, Ed, Leo, and Clarence Galliart and their families.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. July 5, 2018, at the Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, Va. 23188.

Kathryn Lorraine Huehl, 60, passed away Saturday, June 30, 2018, at her home in Lincoln, Kan. She was born June 8, 1958 in Salina to William “Bill” and Delma (Feldkamp) Long.

Kathy was a lifetime resident of Lincoln, graduating from Lincoln Jr. Sr. High School in 1976. Kathy went on to complete her Associates Degree in Business from Brown Mackie in Salina, Kan. Kathy married William “Bill” Huehl in Lincoln June 3, 1978, and had recently celebrated 40 years of marriage. She worked at St. Francis Youth Services in Salina and was a life member of the VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary.

Kathy is survived by her husband Bill of Lincoln; son, William Duane Huehl of Kansas City, Mo.; daughter, Anna Huehl Williams of Kansas City, Kan.; grandchildren, Emily, Reed, and Mya; sister, Terrie Hickman and brother-in-law Bryan Hickman of Minneapolis; and mother, Delma Long of Minneapolis. She was preceded in death by her father, Bill Long.

Scott Alan Stroede, 38, passed away June 29, 2018 in Ellsworth. He was born Dec. 21, 1979 in Salina to Floyd and Virginia (Maske) Stroede.

Scott is survived by his significant other, Jason Burnett of Kanopolis; brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Jennifer Stroede of Russell; sister and brother-in-law, Tracy and Roger Trammell of Hutchinson; four nieces, Teddi and Chloe Trammell and Elizabeth and Courtney Stroede; and two nephews, Jordan and Levi Stroede. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family has chosen cremation. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 7, at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth with a private family inurnment at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Scott Stroede Memorial Fund, in care of Parsons Funeral Home, Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.

Condolences may be left at parsonsfh.com

Louise Armbrust, 99, passed away Friday, June 29, 2018 in her home. She was born on a farm April 3, 1919 in rural Ellsworth County south of Ellsworth to Fred and Ethel (Bradford) Lorenz.

Louise attended the one room, Lone Star School in Mulberry Township. She married Richard “Jack” Armbrust Nov. 18, 1945, after he returned from service in the Army during WWII. Louise worked at several cafes. She enjoyed visiting with all her customers. She worked at Beverly Meats until that department closed. She then worked for over 20 years for Lee Hardware before she retired.
Louise loved her cats and spent most of her time when at home, weather permitting, in her vegetable and flower gardens. She grew many vegetables, flowers, and various fruit trees over the years.